Tunisian authorities on Thursday decreed a national night curfew, the closure of schools and the ban on travel between regions, in order to fight against an upsurge in the epidemic of the new coronavirus.

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NEW CHINA / SIPA

The Tunisian authorities on Thursday decreed new restrictive measures, in order to fight against an upsurge in the epidemic of the new coronavirus.

Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi called in a statement "all governors (of regions) to announce a curfew from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday to Friday and from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. on weekends", without specify the duration of this measure.

Hichem Mechichi also announced the ban on travel between governorates, except for professional reasons and exceptional cases.

Schools will be closed until November 8, and distance courses will be introduced for two weeks for universities.

Gatherings of more than four people prohibited

Tunisia, a country of 11 million inhabitants, has officially recorded more than 1,000 cases per day in recent weeks, as hospitals struggle to manage the influx of patients.

A total of 54,278 cases have been officially recorded, including 1,153 deaths.

Cafes and restaurants will be closed from 3 p.m. GMT and all demonstrations will be banned for two weeks.

In addition, gatherings of more than four people will be prohibited in public places, except transport, and access to places of worship is suspended for two weeks.

"Inescapable" measures

Ilyes Jlassi, a 23-year-old unemployed, considered these new measures "inevitable".

“But my hope for a job is almost dashed given the economic situation.

"The decisions on the night curfew will further increase our losses," said Abed Kader, 63, owner of a tobacco shop in Tunis.

Most of the restrictions were lifted after a first wave in the spring that killed around 50 people.

But the number of infections has skyrocketed, as have deaths.

350 additional intensive care beds

The epidemiological situation is "very dangerous," said the head of the National Center for New and Emerging Diseases, Nassaf Ben Alia.

The Ministry of Health said it had provided 350 additional resuscitation beds since the start of the epidemic and is trying to increase this number to 1,000 by the end of October.

In neighboring Algeria, the trend is also on the rise.

Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad deplored a "relaxation" of the population in compliance with the measures.

While more than 57,000 cases including nearly 2,000 deaths have been officially recorded, the head of state Abdelmadjid Tebboune was hospitalized Wednesday in Germany for "medical examinations", according to the presidency.

The state of health emergency extended until November 10.

On Saturday, she let it be known that Abdelmadjid Tebboune had put himself "voluntarily" in isolation after the possible contamination by the new coronavirus of senior officials.

Containment measures were relaxed on September 30, but the ban on gatherings is maintained.

Morocco is experiencing an unprecedented level of contamination - sometimes more than 4,000 new infections daily in recent days - and the number of deaths has accelerated significantly, with now more than 3,000 dead.

Travel restrictions between large cities have been in place since the end of July, and Casablanca, the most affected agglomeration, is under nighttime curfew.

The state of health emergency has been extended until November 10.

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  • epidemic

  • Tunisia

  • Coronavirus

  • Curfew

  • Health

  • Covid 19